The question of Vice President Kamala Harris's past employment history sparked a heated debate during a campaign event in Pennsylvania.
According to Fox News, Senator JD Vance criticized the media's lack of scrutiny regarding Harris's claims about previously working at McDonald's during her college years.
During an appearance on "America's Newsroom," Vance addressed former President Donald Trump's recent McDonald's visit, where Trump served fries and interacted with customers at a Pennsylvania location.
The former president's McDonald's appearance generated significant attention, with Trump donning an apron and operating the fry station at the Philadelphia-area restaurant. Left-leaning media outlets characterized the visit as "bizarre" and "stage-managed."
Vance defended Trump's interaction with McDonald's employees, emphasizing the necessity of security measures due to recent threats against the former president's life. He highlighted Trump's genuine interest in connecting with workers.
Senator Vance himself participated in a similar public engagement, serving beverages to sports enthusiasts near Lambeau Field before a Green Bay Packers game in Wisconsin.
The Harris-Walz 2024 campaign responded to Trump's McDonald's appearance through spokesperson Joseph Costello, who criticized the former president's understanding of working-class experiences.
Vance addressed Harris's previous employment claims, noting the campaign's perspective on the matter. He expressed concern about the media's approach to fact-checking.
Speaking on the controversy, Vance stated:
I don't know if there a campaign position on it, but I have spoken to Donald Trump about this. What we find weird about this is that Kamala Harris has been able to produce no evidence that she worked at McDonald's, and she didn't even talk about it until 2019 during, I believe, her first run for the United States Senate.
Vance compared Trump's authentic interactions with the public to Harris's campaign appearances, specifically referencing her visit to Sheetz, where she reportedly required multiple takes to film a simple shopping scene.
The senator acknowledged feeling overshadowed by Trump's McDonald's appearance, revealing he had contacted the former president about the media coverage of their respective public appearances.
Trump's team indicated the McDonald's visit was deliberately planned to challenge Harris's employment claims, while the Harris campaign maintained focus on policy positions and worker advocacy.
The debate over Vice President Harris's alleged McDonald's employment history has become a focal point in the ongoing campaign narrative. Senator JD Vance's criticism centers on the lack of media investigation into Harris's claims, while Trump's McDonald's appearance served as a strategic campaign move. The controversy highlights the broader discussion about candidate authenticity and media scrutiny in political campaigns.